I know I should sit down and take the time to write a proper post. To summarize and to reflect on this past year and how hard and/or easy it was to keep my family feed for one hundred dollars a month. But my mind just draws a blank. I am not a writer. I am just a housewife who got bored one day and decided to start a blog.
I began on January 1st, 2009 with the simple idea of planting a garden. On a whim I decided to record the journey online. For myself. When I first started, my plan was to try to jump off the processed food chain. To stop eating processed food.
HA. HA. HA.
That worked out well. During the summer of 2009 I was able to grow a little over 1,000 lbs of produce in my backyard. Even with all those yummy fresh vegetables, I somehow veered off course. Somewhere along the way I became addicted to coupon crack {thanks to Mrs.H}. I even had a little coupon crack blog going for a while there. But after a few months I grew bored, shelved the idea and went back to what I knew best. Being Mavis. Clipping, cooking, planting and generally making the HH, The Girl and Monkey Boy crazy 24/7. The winter of 2010 passed and a few months later two ladies from Idaho found my blog and contacted me. And well, you know what happened there.
This past summer came and went in the blink of an eye. School started and the next thing I knew it was December 23rd and I was sitting in front of my computer screen wondering where this past year had gone.
2011 flew by.
I have a few goals in mind for 2012 but for right now, I just want to finish up 2011.
Here is what I purchased last week:
The Girl Who Thinks She’s A Bird made a delicious ham for Christmas dinner. We decided to make split pea soup with the leftovers. I picked up a 1lb of peas & a gallon of milk at Fred Meyer last Monday for $3.57.
On Thursday I headed over to Albertsons and picked up a 15 pound sack of potatoes, 8 oz of provolone cheese (for panini sandwiches) and 5 tomatoes. My total came to $7.64. I quickly handed over my $5 off coupon and then scrounged around my purse for the remaining $2.64.
By then I was down to $1.36 for the rest of the year.
I figured at that point I needed to stop. I told myself I was not going to walk into another grocery store until January 1st. And I didn’t.
Total Spent on groceries in 2011 $1,198.64.
I did it. I really did it. It was hard in the beginning, but after a while, not spending a lot of money on groceries became second nature. If you want to reduce the amount of money you spend on groceries this year, set a goal. Don’t look back and don’t give up. You have more willpower inside of you than you think you do.
♥ Mavis
Challice says
Good job! Way to go!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Mariska says
Congrats! I really have enjoyed reading your posts this year, and although I don’t think I could do it myself on a budget SO small, you have been inspiring! Thank you!
Danielle says
Yah! You did it I can’t wait to see what you do this year!
Jennifer says
I have LOVED watching you this past year. Congratulations!!!!!
nancy says
i had fun following you on your journey. congrats on a job well done!
Jennifer Jo says
So impressive, Mavis. I love you!
Michelle says
So cool…are you gonna do it again?
Jules says
You are a grocery rockstar! And a shopper to emulate. I should get a shirt that says “I want to be like Mavis” – and only those in the know would understand 🙂
Robbie says
Woo hoo! Watch out 2012, here comes Mavis!
Desi says
Way to go Mavis! So awesome, doesn’t even describe it! Now for me to do better this year.
Katie W. says
Congrats! Way to go! You did great!
Heather says
What willpower and inspiration! I vow to write down every penny we spend this year, because although we reduced our outgoing money last year on groceries, there were other areas we were a little loosy-goosy, so we need to fix that!
PS. I found a $5 off coupon from Albies on the ground walking in a parking lot in my town and picked it up. Such a Mavis thing to do I instantly thought…then it hit me…Do you know if I can use another persons $5 off coupon? I mean if I my mom was to give me hers, wonder if I can use it? I might just have to be bold and try 😉
Gloria says
Way to go, Mavis! I knew you could do it. Congrats from Virginia!
Kerri says
Congratulations! I have been following you religiously since I had the opportunity to meet you at the Norman Rockwell exhibit. This blog is so much fun and I love reading your adventures and getting a good laugh, too. You are incredibly inspiring – not just for your mad couponing skills but also for the way you set such an original goal and achieved it while having so much fun along the way. I’m excited to see what 2012 holds!
Heather S. says
I have to say thank you for being bored, because you crack me up! I read different blogs here and there, but your’s is the only one I’ve stuck with. I look forward to your posts and can’t wait to see what the new year brings 🙂